When chopsticks aren't much chop

Britons' enthusiasm for chow mein and Peking duck is often dampened when poor chopstick skills leave more food on their shirts than in their mouths.

But scientists have come to their aid with a mathematical formula for successful chopstick use, just in time for Thursday's Chinese New Year celebrations.

Researchers from the University of Surrey took into account the number of Chinese meals eaten, how many seconds it takes to get food from bowl to mouth and food slipperiness to calculate the key to chopstick proficiency.

Diners can use the formula to calculate how much practice they need, how long their chopsticks should be and how quickly they should eat.

"The formula will come as a welcome answer for those terrified by chopsticks," said a spokeswoman for food firm Uncle Ben's, which found that over half of Britons have to down chopsticks and use a knife and fork to finish their food.